Does the NBA Have An Image Problem?

In the survey, completed before former referee Tim Donaghy’s allegations of game fixing by league execs and referees, 41% think it’s either, “very likely or somewhat likely that the NBA alters the outcome of games.”

This is despite the fact that only 46% respondents claimed to be, “aware that an NBA referee was recently investigated by the FBI for receiving cash payments in return for passing inside information along to friends and gamblers.”

Writes reporter Michael Bush, “It has long been thought that NBA Commissioner David Stern, in comparison to the commissioners of the other three majors, has best understood the benefits of good PR and developing a global positive brand image. Mr. Stern dismissed Mr. Donaghy’s allegations as baseless.”